North coast ministry responds to quest for spiritual health and fulfilment

Mark Muss calls his work within the alternative communities of the far north coast "colourful ministry for a colourful region". And his own skills and passions — as minister, carpenter, musician, gardener, husband and father — equip him well for ministry with this diverse group of people.

The Alternate Lifestyle Ministry project — which takes in towns like Nimbin, Byron Bay, Bangalow, Mullumbimby and Brunswick Heads — grew out of a sense that many in the area were seeking spiritual answers for their lives, but would not naturally turn to the existing Church in order to find them.

It aims to build relationships with people through existing channels in the area, such as environmental movements, peace advocacy groups and artist communities.

Mark's placement formally began in January with a grant from the Synod Mission Resource Fund, but he has been living and working with the people of the region for over three years.

"Many in the alternative community are here because they seek a better way of life — better for themselves, their children, wildlife, nature and the world," he said. "Others are hurting and struggling, seeking refuge from a harsh and bewildering world. Almost always an aspect of this search is a quest for spiritual health and fulfilment."

Mark said that the aim of the ministry was not to try to get people out of alternative culture and into church but to develop faith communities in the midst of the existing culture.

"At large, alternative people are very active in personal spiritual development and open to discussion. I have found myself in spiritual dialogue with an ever-growing number of people and already a few people have discovered Christian faith.

"An exciting aspect of this ministry is the surprise meetings with people who God has reached out to in real and often amazing ways - in dreams and visions of Jesus and desires to rediscover one's Christian spiritual roots."

Mark trained in ministry in the Baptist Church and in 2002 started working in religious education and pastoral care at Mullumbimby High School. It was here that he connected with the Uniting Church, thanks to encouragement from the Brunswick Valley congregation.

"Brunswick Valley Uniting supported my ministry at Mullumbimby and I developed a wonderful relationship with people at the church," said Mark. "They were very open and warm and that really started to open my heart to the Uniting Church. I read the Basis of Union and was amazed at what I found. That led me to make contact with the Uniting Church and start exploring the ministry possibilities in the area."

When it came to his ministry, Mark said his mode of working was simple: "Avoiding the agenda of evangelising to people and being genuine in my friendships with people. In time, people come to understand and trust me as a person. Ministry opportunities just develop very naturally and very effectively from that."

He meets people in cafes, at local markets and through various community networks, such as artists and musicians' groups.

Incarnational ministry

One of the cornerstones of his ministry is a weekly home group.

One participant was Wayne Collins, who moved to the far north coast with his wife and children five years ago in the hope of finding a deeper sense of community.

As a successfully recovering alcoholic, Wayne sought to help others who were going through a similar process. He said the home group developed organically out of this.

"I had offered a friend a few hours of my time each Thursday night so we could sit and read the Bible together as an alternative to him coming to visit on Friday with the alcoholic's remorse and a hangover," he explained.

"As is the way with these things, word got around and before my wife and I knew it, we had quite a large and committed group in our home each week. Not everybody that comes has addiction issues to deal with - it's about fellowship. The opportunity to share our home with this very eclectic group is one we appreciate."

The philosophy behind the ministry project as a whole — incarnational ministry which offers a safe and interactive environment for faith exploration — was played out in the home group, said Wayne.

"The thing I enjoy most about this God-given opportunity is simple. Most of the people that arrive on my doorstep wouldn't set foot inside a traditional church — the feeling of not-belonging is too overpowering for them. In our home we have no dress code, very few behavioural expectations, no collection plate; we ask nothing from our friends except that they share the word of God with us and open their hearts to God's love."

The project is still in its infancy, but Mark Muss is hopeful that it will evolve into a sustainable, long-term, effective ministry, with a network of worship communities in the region.

"Sadly, a Christian voice in the alternate community has always been marginal, mostly over-critical, sometimes inappropriate and even damaging", he said. "It is to this situation that the Uniting Church has responded with a fresh approach."

Emma Halgren

Sections of this article first appeared in Northern Light, the quarterly newspaper of the Far North Coast Presbytery. Photos: Peter Gibney